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NEWS<br />
<strong>advances</strong><br />
SmartKem’s semiconductor makes flexible electronics a reality<br />
Flexible electronics for the Internet<br />
of things are now a reality thanks<br />
to new technology created by North<br />
Wales company SmartKem Ltd, with<br />
the help of Bangor University.<br />
SmartKem is a developer of semiconductors for the<br />
manufacture of flexible displays and electronics. The<br />
company recently set a new world record in digital<br />
circuit performance with its solution processed<br />
organic semiconductor, tru-FLEX®.<br />
Research on the company’s semiconductor<br />
material has been supported by scientists at Bangor<br />
University’s School of Electronic Engineering, who<br />
have demonstrated that it operates in electronic<br />
form at the frequencies required to make high-speed<br />
flexible electronics a reality. The results demonstrate<br />
that the historic barrier of transistor speed for realising<br />
fast, solution-printed electronics, no longer exists.<br />
A new speed of operation of electronics opens up a<br />
wide range of application possibilities, which could<br />
drive forward complex flexible electronics for RFID or<br />
“This is a great result and a testament to our capability in material and transistor expertise. This emphasises<br />
the enabling nature of materials innovation in driving forward the potential of flexible electronics, not<br />
just for application to smart, flexible electronics for the Internet of Things, for instance, but also the unique<br />
position it holds in enabling the growth of the flexible display industry. Bangor’s assistance on this project<br />
has been essential, without their expertise we would not have been able to achieve such a fantastic result.”<br />
Steve Kelly<br />
CEO and Founder of SmartKem<br />
NFC labels and sensors. The flexibility and durability<br />
of the technology platform, with the potential for high<br />
volume print production, means electronic bar codes<br />
could be applied to fast moving consumer goods.<br />
www.smartkem.com<br />
IN BRIEF<br />
Video game developer to create<br />
70 new Welsh jobs<br />
Brighton-based game developer Relentless is planning<br />
to open a new studio in Wales, creating 70 jobs. The<br />
news comes as Wales develops a growing reputation<br />
as a centre for digital media. The company is also<br />
collaborating with multi-national organisation<br />
Hasbro, which has a distribution service in Newport,<br />
South Wales, to develop multiple new projects. It<br />
will be the second major inward investment for a<br />
games development studio that will create skilled<br />
jobs and attract investment to Wales from a global<br />
entertainment company.<br />
Axium trebles size of Swansea<br />
factory<br />
Stainless steel specialist, Axium Process, has trebled the<br />
size of its Swansea factory to 30,000 square foot to allow<br />
increased production capacity. All processes have been<br />
integrated into the new facility, with the aim of driving<br />
customer benefits such as improved delivery times. The<br />
company has also invested in inspection facilities and<br />
testing procedures to meet validation requirements. As<br />
well as its hygienic stainless steel fabrication, Axium<br />
also operates in the field of membrane and filtration<br />
technologies, which are used for effluent treatment and<br />
product purification. The new facility includes a dedicated<br />
wet test area and laboratory services for customers wishing<br />
to conduct pilot plant trials and evaluate membrane<br />
filtration for any liquid process separation requirements.<br />
Investment for new treatments for chronic skin conditions<br />
Curapel, a healthcare company developing innovative new products for eczema and psoriasis as<br />
well as skin pigmentation conditions, has set up its headquarters in Cardiff and received £350,000<br />
equity investment to help it develop treatments for chronic skin conditions. Formulated from safe<br />
and natural ingredients, Curapel’s products are patent protected and all in late-stage product<br />
development, with clinical testing set to continue through 2016. Curapel will now use this equity<br />
investment to develop and commercialise its products.<br />
Swansea University launches Centre for Biomathematics<br />
Swansea University has launched its latest research project, the Centre for Biomathematics, based<br />
in the College of Science. The Centre provides a cross-community, interdisciplinary focus for experts<br />
with interests in the interface between mathematics and biology or medicine. It aims to foster<br />
collaboration for new developments in both fields. Co-Directors Dr Luca Borger and Dr Elaine Crooks<br />
said: “By exploiting complementary and wide-ranging knowledge across disciplines, the Centre<br />
aims to develop novel biologically-informed predictive mathematical and statistical models and<br />
computational approaches to tackle topical questions in biology and medicine and, hopefully, at the<br />
same time lead to new theoretical developments in mathematics and computer science.”<br />
Engineering company opens new Port Talbot site<br />
Braithwaite Engineers, a company from South Wales with a heritage dating back to the 1880s,<br />
is investing in the future of steel fabrication in Port Talbot, creating new jobs for skilled people.<br />
Historically, the company was a pioneer in heavy engineering, building railways, bridges, piers and steel<br />
framed buildings worldwide, including in India, where Braithwaite built much of the railway network<br />
and rolling stock. The company has produced sectional water storage tanks since the 1920s at its<br />
Neptune Works in Newport, which continue to be used in the UK and exported internationally. The<br />
company is now returning to its engineering roots by establishing a structural steelwork fabrication<br />
facility at a site in Baglan, Port Talbot. With a 25,000 square foot factory, a three and half acre secure<br />
yard and a crane with the capacity to lift 30 tonne units, the company have a new workshop with<br />
exceptional versatility.<br />
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<strong>advances</strong> wales